What Is the Ministry of Trade's Responsible Programme? Green Transition Incentives

The Responsible® Programme is a support scheme offered to exporters by Türkiye's Ministry of Trade. Put simply: when your company gets sustainability consulting, the state pays half of the bill. The programme's official name is the "Green Deal Compliance Project Support."

Why Does This Support Exist?

The European Union now asks how much harm the products it buys do to the environment. For example, a customer of yours in the EU wants to know how much carbon was emitted while producing the steel or textile goods it buys from you. An exporter who cannot answer this question risks losing the order. The Responsible® Programme exists to ease the cost of getting companies ready for these new rules.

Who Can Apply?

• Companies that manufacture and export goods
• Companies with total exports of USD 300,000 or more over the last three years

Service exporters cannot apply for now.

How Much Is the Grant?

50% of consulting costs are covered for 5 years. The ceiling has been set at TRY 17,640,256 for 2026 and is updated each year in line with inflation.

How Does the Programme Work?

1. Phase 1 – Current state: A consultant appointed by the Ministry reviews your company. This is the mandatory first step, revealing the company's carbon load, resource consumption and gaps like an X-ray. At this stage, the Ministry provides 50% cash support based on service fee ceilings ranging from TRY 500,000 to TRY 1,500,000 depending on company size. The process cannot move on to the next phases until this report is approved by the Ministry.
2. Phase 2 – Implementation Consulting: Covers technical consulting obtained, in line with the roadmap set in the first phase, for sustainability needs, improving production processes, energy efficiency projects and digital transformation software (ERP, process management, etc.).
3. Phase 3 – Monitoring and Verification: Projects that have been put into practice are measured and reported to see whether they actually work. This is the final link, where service outputs are registered by accredited bodies and verification reports are obtained.

Completing all the projects planned in the Phase 1 roadmap is not mandatory. Companies can decide whether to continue based on their needs. Thanks to the flexibility in current legislation, verification under Phase 3 can also run in parallel, without waiting for Phase 2 to be fully completed.

How Do You Get the Responsible® Brand?

Companies that exceed a certain sustainability level at the end of the assessment earn the right to use the Responsible® brand for 5 years. The brand is the shortest way of telling your customers, "We have passed a state-recognised sustainability assessment."

Applications are made through the responsible.gov.tr portal. It is important to wait for your application to be approved before signing a consulting contract.

To find out whether you are eligible for the programme and to plan your sustainability roadmap, get in touch with our experts.